Aberdeen's School Delay

School is being delayed in Aberdeen by 3 weeks for extra precaution.

August is just around the corner, and so is the start of a new school year..

Caution fueled by the continuing covid-19 surge is causing a change in áhowá school is done.

Now at least one district is changing áwhená school will start.

Savannah gaido joins us live in the studio with more..

Originally, the aberdeen school district was supposed to start on august 6th, but they are now pushing that start date back to august 24th.

And they are using those extra days to make sure that students, staff , and parents are all prepared for the upcoming school year "i think most of them are going to enjoy a late start, that means a little more time at home."

Earlier this week, the aberdeen school leaders made the tough call to push the first day of school back almost 3 weeks.

"the reason behind us pushing back the start date is to ensure that our administrator, our staff members, and the entire learning community in the aberdeen school district is prepared.

With the covid cases increasing, we just want to take the extra precautions to ensure safety and health of all of our students."

Temeka shannon, the aberdeen chief academic officer says the move underlines the district's top priority.

"aberdeen school district is committed to the safety, health and well being of all of our students and all of our staff members.

As the cdc and as the mississippi department of health, as they release new guidelines, we are going to follow every guideline humanly possible to ensure the safety and well being of our entire learning community."

The mde requires schools to have 180 calendar days for students and 187 days for teacher -- so school could stretch deeper into spring..

"but nothing supercedes the importance of health and safety for our students.

So if that means we go a little longer, then that means we go a little longer because we want all of our students and staff members safe."

"that says that the school district is looking out for our children as well as the bus drivers and the parents and grandparents.

They've got us in mind."

Aberdeen has decided to offer a hybrid model and distance learning model for students.

With the hybrid model students are on an a schedule or b schedule and will come to school on mondays and wednesday's or tuesday's and thursday's friday's will be used as a parent teacher contact day and for sanitation.